By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Beer, Biking, barbecue, and now live music. Bike Brew Q continues to grow in its quest to support cystic fibrosis research. After raising more than $10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation last year, the event has now raised more than $70,000 in its first six years.
After a slow down due to COVID in year five of the event, Bike Brew Q Event Chair Ryan Fairchild said the festival returns to full swing on July 30 with a series of bike rides, the Craft Brew Expo, and the addition of live music.
"Our fifth annual we had the bike rides still, but with COVID we didn't have a big celebration," he said. "We figured this year we're going to have live music. We're going to try and step things up this year. Hopefully, everyone comes out and has a great time and helps us support cystic fibrosis research."
Gone are the longer bike ride options, but 20 and 40-mile road rides are still part of the festivities, and gravel rides have also been added.
"We took away our long routes because the popularity had gone down on those a little bit," Fairchild said. "We've reintroduced two gravel routes. We have a 20 and a 40-mile gravel route. As gravel has grown over the years, we've been asked to include a gravel route again. People asked and we listened."
So far, the Craft Beer Expo has 12 breweries and counting lined up. Increasing COVID numbers around the state may again play a role at this year's fest.
"We're down a little bit this year," Fairchild said. "A lot of breweries have reevaluated which festivals they're going to do. Also, with the spring back of a little bit of COVID, some are staying away from these bigger festivals."
For a full list of events, to buy tickets, or to donate, visit bikebrewq.com.